BSCP multi agency audit upon neglect - a learning review

In November 2022 BSCP came together to undertake a multi agency audit which featured the review of 3 children’s experiences in receipt of multi agency provision, where neglect was a prominent concern.

Working Together 2018 defines neglect as: ‘The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.’

 We wanted to make sure that of the 3 cases audited by the safeguarding partnership there was a strong identification of where their experiences were positive, and where multi agency responses could have been strengthened so that we can build this into future planning and delivery under our Learning & Improvement model.

Within the multi agency audit, common practice themes were identified that it was felt that, going forward, the Partnership would hold in mind as risk factors that could exacerbate any neglect children experience. They were:  

• Children with Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND),
• meeting the needs of young carers,
• transfer of children in and out of services and local areas,
• responses to domestic abuse,
• identifying the impact of poverty upon children through an intersectional lens, 
• children who identify as transgender,
• children receiving elective home education
•  cultural competency in practice.

Responding to and tackling neglect was identified as a possible area of future focus for the BSCP within the forthcoming indepedent scrutiny visit report, and this will be identified within business planning and future focus for both the Learning & Thematic Review sub group and the Performance & Quality Assurance sub groups.

 In the meantime, please find here a learning review and summary from the Multi Agency Audit that we hope you find useful in holding in mind when responding to concerns neglect is having upon children and young people.